How hypnosis can get rid of your dog phobia

Dogs have long been considered man's best friend and for most people, it is probably very true. However, not everyone can be counted in this group, as there are in fact many people who do not feel comfortable around dogs. For even a smaller group of people, there are afraid of dogs, otherwise known as a dog phobia.

What exactly are phobias?

According to a psychiatrist, phobias are characterised as an irrational fear of something in particular. There are several different types of phobias, and this can include the fear of animals like dogs. This goes well beyond being afraid of an aggressive dog that happens to be growling and baring its teeth at you. That would not be seen as a phobia, but if you are generally afraid of being in the same room as any dog, that would be more consistent with a phobia.

Dog phobias are not uncommon

Like any other phobia, the fear of dogs is actually more common than you might think and it could be that people see all of the issues with dogs on the news and hear of friends or neighbours being attacked by dogs and start to develop an irrational fear of all dogs. The most common symptoms of a dog phobia could be as simple as an elevated heart rate at the very sight of a dog. A person's anxiety level can be increased unexpectedly when in the same room as a dog. They experience an overall feeling of dread or, even worse, they may actually begin to feel like they could die.

Not all cases are the same and therefore not all treatment options are going to work as well for phobias. According to the experts, phobias can be extremely difficult to treat depending on the severity of the phobia. While some people may respond to the "facing your fear" course of treatment, others may need to try one or more of the other forms of treatment.

Treatments for dog phobia

One of the more successful forms of treatment for dog phobia is hypnotherapy. This is not really as far-fetched as you might think. Considering hypnosis has to do with the subconscious mind and that seems to fit well in with phobias. However, much like any other mental illness, not all treatments work the same on all people.

What is hypnosis?

The definition of hypnosis is putting a person into a trance-like state of consciousness where they are extremely susceptible to suggestions. This ability to influence the unconscious mind makes it easier for a therapist to help change a behaviour, however deeply seated or suppressed it might be. This type of therapy should only be administered by a highly trained individual due to the complex nature involved in the use of this type of technique.

Hypnotherapy as a treatment for dog phobia

It is truly not surprising why dog phobias can be so debilitating with the fact that there are so many dogs being kept as pets and also, unfortunately, far too many running loose on the streets. Many people seek treatment from a mental health provider for a dog phobia and are unable to get the help they need; maybe the answer is to seek out a hypnotherapist instead. There has been plenty of evidence that it can be extremely effective as a means of eliminating a person's dog phobia permanently.

Conclusion

If you or someone you know that is exhibiting telltale signs of dog phobia and seem to unable to get the treatment that works, consider seeking out the help of a hypnotherapist.

Biodun Ogunyemi is the founder of Optimind, one of the leading hypnotherapy practices within the UK. He has practised on Harley Street and is an experienced hypnotherapist, trained to the highest level in advanced hypnotherapy and NLP and is the author of over 180 hypnosis products.… Read more